Mpox outbreak in Australia: half of cases had previously received a vaccine
3 October 2024. Related: mpox (monkeypox).
Simon Collins, HIV i-Base
A recent Australian outbreak of mpox in New South Wales since June has included 433 cases and 26 hospitalisations.
These data are important to show that mpox outbreaks are easily possible in high-income countries in the context of good vaccine coverage after the 2022 outbreak. Over 40% of cases in the recent outbreak were in people who were fully vaccinated, having received two doses, and 14% had previously received one dose.
Although further details were not reported, cases are being reported as less severe and resolving more quickly with some level of vaccine cover compared to people who haven’t been vaccinated.
Cases are linked to local acquisition rather than foreign travel.
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Syndicated reports of this outbreak have already been reported by mainstream media in the UK, including in the Guardian and Daily Mail.
Both include the Australian recommendation for people at risk to come forward for vaccination, without reference to the likely limited vaccine supply.
A research letter published in JAMA reports waning immune responses against mpox in people who were vaccinated in 2022. [3]
Lower levels of antibody responses however doesn’t necessarily mean that protection against mpox has dropped and the US CDC does not currently recommend that anyone needs more than two doses of the MVA-BN mpox vaccine. [4]
References
- Australian Associated Press. Vaccines urged as mpox cases surge in global emergency. (27 September 2024).
https://www.aap.com.au/news/vaccines-urged-as-mpox-cases-surge-in-global-emergency/ - New.com.au. NSW Health urges people at risk of mpox to get vaccinated. (3 October 2024).
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/nsw-health-urges-people-at-risk-of-mpox-to-get-vaccinated/news-story/576a85287a1869deb922441e2188519a - Collier AY et al. Decline of Mpox Antibody Responses After Modified Vaccinia Ankara–Bavarian Nordic Vaccination.
- US CDC. Mpox vaccine basics. (Accessed 3 October 2024).
https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/